November 5, 2012   

What: 2012 Independent Sector Annual Conference

When: November 11-12, 2012

Where: Hilton San Francisco Union Square, 333 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, California 94102

Who:  More than 100 speakers including Matt Miller, Washington Post columnist and host of NPR’s “Left, Right, & Center,” and Jeff Skoll, philanthropist, social entrepreneur, and recipient of the 2012 John W. Gardner Leadership Award, will address thought leaders in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. Attendees include a wide array of professionals, including nearly 300 chief executives, directors, and founders of nonprofits and foundations. About 40 percent of the attendees will be from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Media requesting media passes should email kristinac@independentsector.org or register at the conference in the Yosemite Room in the Hilton San Francisco Union Square.

Highlights include:

• Sunday, Nov. 11, 12:00-1:30 p.m. Game On: Reality after the Rhetoric: Find out what lies ahead for America after the election dust settles and the last states in dispute have been counted and resolved. Speakers will consider how the 2012 election results will shape America’s future and their effect on communities and organizations that serve them. Speakers: Steve McCormick, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; Ken Harbaugh, ServiceNation; Matt Miller, Washington Post; Arturo Vargas, National Association of Latino Elected Officials; and Alberto Ibargüen, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
  
  
• Sunday, Nov. 11, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Reimagining Ways to Finance the Sector: How can nonprofits expand on a traditional funding base? We will look at alternative ways to think about funding the work of the sector as our experts discuss new and expanded financial models - including impact investing, venture philanthropy, new government and business options for investments that organizations are using to fund and scale their work. Speakers: Lucy Bernholz, Arabella Advisors; Paula Goldman, Omidyar Network; Julie Mikuta, New Schools Venture Fund; Conan Smith, Michigan Suburbs Alliance; Dan Winterson, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; and Laura Callanan, McKinsey & Company.
  
  
• Sunday, Nov. 11, 4:00- 5:30 p.m. Navigating a Turbulent and VUCA World: In a world facing increasing Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA), special leadership skills are required to adapt and respond to these changes. This session will dig into the real world experiences of leading in these challenging times. Speakers: Jeffrey Lawrence, Cambridge Leadership Associates; Lisa Maulhardt, SYPartners; Akaya Windwood, Rockwood Leadership Institute; and Katherine Fulton, Monitor Institute.
  
  
• Monday, Nov. 12, 8:30-9:45 a.m. GameChangers Plenary: The plenary will feature extraordinary leaders from the charitable sector who through their ideas, artful approaches, and power of action have greatly impacted an outcome or movement to make life better for others. Speakers will touch on: What it takes to move the needle and create the kind of change that really matters and that can be scaled; developing coherent and effective strategies to manage massive flows of information in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world; and how to balance and preserve time-tested and effective strategies and practices along with the imperative to grow, adapt and transform. Speakers: Gary Knell, National Public Radio; Bill Shore, Share Our Strength; Patty Stonesifer, former chair, White House Council for Community Solutions; and Emmett Carson, Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
  
  
• Monday, Nov. 12, 10:15-11:45 GameChanging Outcomes:  How do you affect a major change in your organization’s direction, culture or identity and achieve game changing results? Learn from key nonprofit and philanthropic leaders as they share their experiences. Speakers: Ben Jealous, NAACP; Rip Rapson, The Kresge Foundation; Lester Strong, AARP Experience Corps; and David La Piana, La Piana Associates, Inc.
  
  
• Monday, Nov. 12, 12:15-1:45 p.m. From Small Change to Sea Change: Reflections on the Power of the Sector: IS President and CEO Diana Aviv will examine trends that have been sweeping through the nonprofit and philanthropic community in recent years. She will explore the state of the sector and suggest ways organizations might improve their ability to deliver concrete, measurable results. Recognizing hers as just one perspective, Diana will invite the audience to join her in fashioning organizations and communities that are highly responsive to change and that nurture a culture of innovation. Come prepared with your vision and ideas to discuss with colleagues how together we can chart a brighter future for our sector and the millions of people it serves. Steve McCormick of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation will moderate the session.
  
  
• Monday, Nov. 12, 2:15-3:45 p.m. Impact Master Class: Impact is not just quantifying your effort for the final report. Learn how to sharpen your focus on impact – by the way you think about your work, structure your organization, and collaborate with others. This session is for those already well on this path. Speakers: Jeff Edmondson, Strive Network; Ellen Alberding, Joyce Foundation; John Van Camp, Southwest Solutions; and John Bridgeland, Civic Enterprises
  
  
• Monday, Nov. 12, 4:14-5:45 p.m. The Art and Science of Advocacy: Get an in-depth look at Independent Sector’s provocative and introspective analysis of the policy issues and challenges facing our sector. IS President and CEO Diana Aviv will summarize IS’s year-long research study, including the essentials of a successful advocacy framework, and discuss how we should re-think our current strategies, confront our realities, and think beyond our causes. Speakers: Sonya Campion, Campion Foundation; Lisa Graves, Center for the Media and Democracy; Richard Kirsch, Roosevelt Institute; Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign; and Diana Aviv, Independent Sector
  
  
• Monday, Nov. 12, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The John W. Gardner Leadership Dinner: A celebratory evening honoring Jeff Skoll, the 2012 John W. Gardner Leadership Award recipient and Jeff Edmondson, the 2012 American Express NGen Leadership Award recipient. The evening will include performances by Bay Area artists and musicians. Registration to the conference includes one ticket to the Gardner dinner. Additional tickets may still be purchased.
  

To see the entire program, visit IndependentSector.org/ac2012_schedule. You may also follow along on Twitter using #ISConf.

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Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan network of 600 charities, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit and philanthropic community. To learn more about Independent Sector, please visit: IndependentSector.org.